STEUBENVILLE — The Big Red girls’ basketball team left no doubt against Linsly.

Big Red built a 30-point lead at halftime on its way to defeating the Cadets 67-19, via mercy rule Thursday night inside the Crimson Center.

“We talked about our defense creating our offense and getting out into transition,” Big Red (3-0) head coach Angie Forte said. “We wanted to play good solid defense. We wanted to box out and rebound. We wanted to let our defense create our offense. We did a good job of that.”

Big Red outscored the visitors, 24-6, in the second half.

“We had no idea what to expect,” Forte said. “What went on the board was ‘Play Big Red basketball.’ We had not seen them on film. You don’t here much when they haven’t played a game. we told them to lace up their shoes, put Big Red on their chest and walk out and play Big Red basketball.”

Offensively for Big Red, Nyla McShan netted a game-high 17 points. Also, Lucy Sacoccia contributed 13 points, Mikah Taylor tallied 12 and Phynyx Fleming finished with 11.

For Linsly, Alejandra Fernandez delivered a team-high nine points, while Laura Valderas added eight and Carla Sanchez scored two.

The Cadets struck first as Linsly scored the first points of the night, however, Big Red countered by scoring 12 of the next 14 to build a 12-4 advantage. Big Red extended its advantage out to 13 points (18-5) before taking an 18-9 lead into the second.

The victors built their lead back up to 13 points in the second before another Big Red spurt increased their advantage out to 34-11 forcing Linsly head coach Rebecca Upton to call a timeout. The Red-and-Black remained in control as they built a 43-13 lead heading into the locker room at halftime.

The girls from Jefferson County outscored the girls from Ohio County, 16-4, in the third to take a 59-19 lead into the fourth. The victors outscored the girls in black, 8-2, in the fourth to account for the final score.

“We have gotten off to a great start,” Forte said. “I am very proud of the girls. Our ball distribution is very good. We are moving the ball inside and out. We are doing a really good job of sharing the basketball.”

Big Red is scheduled to take on Chaney Saturday afternoon at home. The JV game is set to start at noon with the varsity game to follow.

“They have a couple of nice players,” Forte said. “I don’t remember their names, but they have a kid who is a sophomore who is really good and then they have a kid who is a junior who is also really good. They are quick and athletic. We think they are going to press us the entire game. We are excited about getting the chance to compete against a team we have not seen. We are looking forward to playing a team we have not seen before.”

“We are going to work on handling their pressure. They are probably similar to us. They want to use their defense to create their offense. 

Linsly is slated to play Fort Frye Saturday afternoon on the road. The JV game will start at noon with the varsity game to follow.

Big Red 67, Linsly 19

Linsly      9  4  4 2 – 19

Big Red 18 25 16 8 – 67

LINSLY (0-1): Sanchez 1 0-0 2, Moragrega 0 0-0 0, Valderas 4 0-0 8, Fernandez 3 3-4 9, Martin 0 0-0 0, Lago 0 0-0 0, Purpura 0 0-0 0, Icard 0 0-0 0, Galbreath 0 0-0 0, Knorr 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 8 3-4 19.

BIG RED (3-0): Bowers 0 0-0 0, Saccoccia 6 0-0 13, Lewis 0 0-0 0, Fleming 5 1-1 11, Thompson 2 1-2 5, Younce 0 0-0 0, Scurry 0 0-0 0, Taylor 5 0-2 12, Mcshan 8 1-3 17, Beall 4 0-0 9, Green 0 0-0 0, Montgomery 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 30 3-8 67.

3-POINTERS: Linsly (none); Big Red 4 (Lewis 2, Saccoccia, Beall)